Sam Darnold, Seahawks Stun Rams in OT Thriller with Bold 2-Point Call
On a wild Thursday night in Los Angeles, the Seattle Seahawks delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the NFL season - and they did it with guts, grit, and a quarterback who just might be finding his moment.
After clawing their way back from a major deficit, the Seahawks forced overtime against the Rams in a game that had playoff implications written all over it. But when the Rams struck first in the extra period with a touchdown, Seattle found itself staring down a seven-point hole with the clock ticking under four minutes.
Enter Sam Darnold.
Yes, that Sam Darnold - the former top-three pick turned journeyman who’s now writing a new chapter in the Pacific Northwest. With the season hanging in the balance, Darnold led a composed, confident drive down the field, capping it off with a touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba that pulled Seattle within one.
But this wasn’t a night for playing it safe. With just over three minutes left in overtime and a tie doing them no real favors in the standings, Seattle made the call: go for two. Go for the win.
And they nailed it.
Darnold found tight end Eric Saubert - a name that doesn’t show up often in the box score - for the go-ahead conversion. Just like that, 38-37. Ballgame.
Why Go for Two?
This wasn’t just bravado. It was smart football.
The Rams had already beaten the Seahawks earlier in the season, back in Week 11. That head-to-head win gave Los Angeles the tiebreaker edge in the NFC West. So if this game ended in a tie - and with only 3:13 left in OT, that was a real possibility - the Rams would still hold the upper hand in the division race.
Seattle came into the night at 11-3, firmly in the playoff mix. But winning the division - and potentially grabbing the NFC’s top seed - required more than just a tie.
They needed a win. So Pete Carroll and his staff made the aggressive, analytics-backed call to go for two and take control of their own destiny.
It was the right move. And it worked.
Darnold Delivers
This was a signature moment for Darnold, who’s been stepping into the starting role with steady poise. He didn’t just manage the game - he took command of it when it mattered most. The touchdown to Smith-Njigba was a perfectly timed strike, and the two-point conversion showed trust, timing, and execution with a rarely-used target.
For Smith-Njigba, it was another flash of the talent that made him a first-round pick. And for Saubert, it was a career moment - the kind of play that cements a name in Seahawks lore, even if just for one unforgettable night.
A Statement Win
This wasn’t just a comeback. It was a statement.
Seattle showed resilience in digging out of a hole, confidence in their quarterback, and conviction in their decision-making. In a season where margins are razor-thin and playoff positioning is everything, this win could carry serious weight down the stretch.
And if the Seahawks do go on a run in January, don’t be surprised if we look back at this Thursday night in L.A. as the turning point - the night Sam Darnold and Seattle bet on themselves and cashed in.